THE TRAINING OF FARMERS 



true as in agricultural education : for agri- 

 culture is exceedingly complex ; it rests on 

 a multitude of sciences and arts, and it is 

 handicapped by centuries of burdensome 

 tradition. Agricultural education in this 

 country, as an organized enterprise, is not 

 yet half a century old ; and half a century 

 is none too long for the fitting of the ground 

 and the planting of the seed. 



The leading colleges of agriculture have 

 changed radically within the last five or 

 ten years. The colleges fully recognize 

 their weaknesses; but I find that most of 

 the critics of them are unaware of the re- 

 cent work of these institutions. No institu- 

 tions are now making more substantial 

 progress than these colleges of agriculture. 



The man of special parts has gone to 

 college. For such men there are always 

 special opportunities. In the last fifty 

 years the commercial world has been upset 

 and reorganized, calling everywhere for 

 men of ability. The farm has furnished a 

 remarkable share of these men, for the 

 farm boy is industrious, frugal, able to 

 turn his attention to many enterprises. We 

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